"We have to learn from it, there's no other way now. It's done. It was all done in a bad manner but we have to learn from it, it's the only thing we can do and make sure the same mistakes don't happen again.

"You have to have a reaction. You have to give it everything for the last two games. Then over the summer you have to review what's gone wrong.

"A lot of it is above my jurisdiction. I have to look at myself personally and perhaps my teammates, but there are things that need to be reviewed. We need to find out what they are and make changes so these things never happen again, because we need to do better than we've done this season. That's the honest truth.

"I've been disappointed with certain things in the dressing room and I don't really want to elaborate, that's all I can say on the matter.

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Friend has made 25 appearances this season but seen his campaign disrupted by niggling injuries, preventing the defender from finding any real momentum.

But after playing such a key part over recent seasons at a club he's grown to love, the ex-Wolves and Doncaster man is hurting.

"I've been hurting for a quite a lot of the season anyway because it's not been enjoyable, but when it finally hits you it's not nice, not nice for any players, staff or fans," he said.

"It's important to bounce back now.

"We've had one day off (since Monday night's game), where I just wanted to be with my family and not think about football. On the training ground it's been hard because you're preparing for a game knowing your fate has been decided.

"But as a professional, you know you have to play for pride, for the club and for the fans because it's what they deserve."

The supporters continued singing long after the full-time whistle on Monday night, despite the fact Boro's fate had been sealed, with Friend praising the fans for sticking with the side throughout the season.

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Reflecting on his emotions at full-time at Stamford Bridge, he said: "Amazement first of all because of the fans and how vocal they were. How enthusiastic.

"They are true fans, definitely. You look at them knowing they'll support you through the bad times as well as last season when we got promoted, so we take the highs and lows hopefully together. We hope there are more highs to follow.

"I'd like to say apologies and thankyou to the fans. The support is always there, it's amazing. It reflects Teesside and what people are like in this area. Honest people, hardworking people, loyal people."

And Friend says it's now crucial Boro do all possible to deliver two positive performances for the fans in the remaining weekends of the season.

"You play for pride and you play because you're a professional," he said, looking ahead to games against Southampton and Liverpool.

"To play for Middlesbrough should be an honour. Any of the 30,000 would swap and play for nothing and we're paid to do it.

"It's important to realise you're a professional, you get on with your job. Also, the fans deserve us to got out and give it a go.

"Even though there's nothing on it, in a pre-season friendly you still get out and give it your all, and this is a Premier League fixture, so it's important to go out and do that."